Partington Cove
Partington Cove
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
99 reviews
Excellent
69
Very good
27
Average
2
Poor
0
Terrible
1
SteelCity13
Austin, TX904 contributions
Apr 2021
Great hike in Julia Pfifer State Park. This is a great small hike that has so much to see. From getting to walk over wooden bridges into a forest of redwoods, through old tunnels, and finally along some great coast line were you can see otters playing and feeding in the water. This hike has it all. We could have stayed here all day exploring. Must do if you are looking for a unique quick hike.
Written May 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rachel548
Farmington Hills, MI743 contributions
Aug 2021 • Family
Just save this place in your maps and download everything before hitting the road. Cell service is spotty or non-existent here. There are two paths, but we only did the one towards the right (once you get all the way down the hill) so that we could do the tunnel. Must experience and beautiful view. Just be prepared for the hike back up! One step at a time. It was a little bit much for young children with short legs.
Written October 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JBRetired
Apple Valley, CA489 contributions
Jun 2020 • Couples
Ok first coming backup its steep but only 10-15 minutes if you can do that its a must. Go down watch for the little foot bridge cross it and go through the tunnel. You come out the other side into a different world. Think of the boats that docked here in the 1800’s
Written June 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Waddler
York, UK12,540 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
We parked at the entrance (though there's not loads of parking space). The walk started interestingly as we were in the swirling morning fog which kept coming in and out.
However, before the walk got to its main event (e.g. the cove or the beach) we turned around. Maybe we needn't have, but basically you couldn't proceed without the vegetation touching you and we were concerned about poison ivy and oak etc. We couldn't identify it, so turned around. Could be it was fine, but we just didn't know.
However, before the walk got to its main event (e.g. the cove or the beach) we turned around. Maybe we needn't have, but basically you couldn't proceed without the vegetation touching you and we were concerned about poison ivy and oak etc. We couldn't identify it, so turned around. Could be it was fine, but we just didn't know.
Written September 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Megan D
San Diego, CA9 contributions
Jun 2018 • Family
While the hike itself was beautiful and enjoyable we came back to our rental car to find the passenger window smashed in and a few things taken including my purse which had my keys in it. We were gone at most a half hour. We had to end our trip early, drive the 9 hour drive home on the freeway with no passenger window, and pay for the damages to the rental car. It gets worse... the thieves came all the way down to our house in southern california two days later and stole my car right out of the driveway since they had my keys. We have since changed the locks to our house and beefed up our security system but it makes me sick this would happen. I talked to some locals and the police when we were in Big Sur and this is becoming a problem in the area the past few years though they feel it is nothing more than windows being smashed and petty theft...not a felony which it has now become. They said the Partington Cove trail specifically is targeted. I don't see me ever coming back to Big Sur knowing scum like this is preying on tourists who are just out trying to enjoy nature. Unbelievable.
Written July 1, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TNKaz
Kingston, TN389 contributions
May 2019 • Couples
We spent 1 hour walking the Partington Cove Trail (almost 1 mile RT) We loved this area! After passing a metal gate, you hike down a fairly steep road. Once you get down, there are 3 ways to go. The first left goes to the canyon and a small waterfall. However, there was a large downed tree on that trail so we did not do it. The second and third ways to go involve taking a right from a junction on the main trail. Then take a left to go through a tunnel and out to a viewpoint of a beautiful cove. There's a bench there to sit a spell and enjoy the views. The third way is to backtrack to the last junction (where you turned off for the tunnel) and now turn left to the boulder beach. The trail to the beach is overgrown in places. Beware of poison oak: Leaves of 3, Let it Be! We had on long pants. When we got to the beach we sat on a large rock for about 10 minutes and watched the incoming crashing waves. Loved it! It's best to be back a bit from the waves. A sign at the trailhead warned of life-threatening waves and surge. Return to your car by going back to the main trail, take a left, and continue hiking up the steep road back to your car. We highly recommend this stop along Hwy 1. Traveling south on Hwy 1, the pullout for parking is 9 miles south of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park Entrance or exactly 6 miles south of Nepenthe Restaurant. Traveling north on Hwy 1, the pullout for parking is 2 miles north of the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park turnoff.
Written June 13, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mobpas
Almaty, Kazakhstan130 contributions
Jan 2015 • Family
Short hike (1/2 mile one way) down the road and you will see old docking place. Very easy hike for anybody, recommend for kids and also, don't forget to turn to the beach after the cave - it is nice and quiet. There is no parking place or any signs. The pullout is just 2 miles north of the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park turnoff, or 54.6 miles north of the Hearst Castle turnoff.
Written December 14, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Beverlydbichons
San Carlos, CA83 contributions
Mar 2015 • Couples
Took this walk as a bit of a lark.Loved the vistas, then, on the way back, took a tail to the right.Enterered a tunnel, then walked to the end where there was a bench.Watched whales breaching for forty five minutes, breathtaking!
Written March 6, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marc B
Anchorage, AK157 contributions
Mar 2019 • Couples
We visited here as part of our drive down the California central coast. The place is tricky to find because the signage is almost non-existent. The top of the trail is located on the western inside of a bend in Highway One, 6 miles south of Nepenthe Restaurant in Big Sur, and 2 miles north of the entrance to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park (across from McWay Falls). At the inland point of the curve, there is a pullout on the coastal side, barely, with room for a few cars.
The trail head is just a steel fence with space to walk around it. The trail is actually the old road down the hill on which those who constructed the wharfage and tunnel carried tanbark to ships.
The trail is somewhat steep but pretty good, though the road is washed out in a few spots. You go down about ¾ mile and 270 feet in elevation.
At the bottom, the trail splits three ways. The left trail takes you up Partington Creek a ways. The right fork takes you out to a rocky beach at Partington Point. The middle trail takes you over a bridge across Partington Creek, and a little ways further you enter a 60-foot tunnel to access Partington Cove. There is a nice wooden bench at the end, and you can see remnants of wharf footings on the rocks.
Round trip is about a mile, and the walk out is somewhat steep. But what a great experience.
The trail head is just a steel fence with space to walk around it. The trail is actually the old road down the hill on which those who constructed the wharfage and tunnel carried tanbark to ships.
The trail is somewhat steep but pretty good, though the road is washed out in a few spots. You go down about ¾ mile and 270 feet in elevation.
At the bottom, the trail splits three ways. The left trail takes you up Partington Creek a ways. The right fork takes you out to a rocky beach at Partington Point. The middle trail takes you over a bridge across Partington Creek, and a little ways further you enter a 60-foot tunnel to access Partington Cove. There is a nice wooden bench at the end, and you can see remnants of wharf footings on the rocks.
Round trip is about a mile, and the walk out is somewhat steep. But what a great experience.
Written March 20, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
costaricagregg
Glenwood Springs, CO339 contributions
Dec 2014 • Couples
First off you have to find the parking pull-over - not really a lot. If you go past Julia Pfeiffer state park going south you have gone too far. The hike is about a mile and 300 feet down to the ocean. Great view of the waves crashing on the rocks. There is an old tunnel that goes to an inlet where they used to unload cargo from the ships- no roads to the Big Sur area at that time. Also, it was of course used for smuggling during prohibition.
There is also a great trail on the other side of the road - good forest and stream through the redwoods. Also, a turn off spur to the Tin House.
There is also a great trail on the other side of the road - good forest and stream through the redwoods. Also, a turn off spur to the Tin House.
Written December 16, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
It is right on Highway 1 parking is on the shoulder of the road. Route 1 is open all the way. You will find it listed on google maps and GPS brought us right there. Important because there is no sign on the road just a gate across. It is worth it great hike
Written July 2, 2020
I do not recall any signs prohibiting dogs on the trail.
Written November 8, 2018
Yes, but the minister will need to be agile, there is a mile walk down a steep road. .. ...and the same walk up!
Written May 8, 2016
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